Prom: Is it a Big Deal?

Prom: the teen movie rite of passage. In so many high school movies (and in Taylor Swift music videos), the senior prom is the turning point, the climax, or the point where the ugly duckling turns into a beautiful swan. April 21st is the day that so many in the junior and senior classes will be getting ready for: buying tickets, making dinner reservations, and fitting tuxes and dresses. But what do your peers really think of prom? Are they going? Is it as a big of a deal as movies and some people make it out to be?
Some people are excited. Lizzie Schachterle, a junior, said, “I think there are a lot of juniors that don’t want to spoil their senior prom by going this year, but I don’t care. I’m excited for prom! But it’s not a huge deal unless you want it to be, I just want to have fun.”
Many people said that they don’t think it’s that big of a deal. Marissa Emmerich, a junior who is going to prom said, “To be honest, I just think about it as another dance.”
Victoria Furlow, a senior who will also be attending, said, “I don’t think prom is a big deal. It will be my third time going, but I’ll be going with a group of close friends of mine, and I know it’ll be a memorable night. It’s just not as big a deal as everyone else makes it out to be. It’s just a dance.” This situation seems to be a common one: going to prom, but not making a huge deal out of it.
On the other hand, there are those who are being dragged to prom kicking and screaming, like senior Connor Downes! When asked if prom is a big deal, he said, “Heck no. I’m going 25% because it’s a rite of passage, and 50% because my friend is making me. And the other 25% still doesn’t want to go.”
Another senior who asked that their name not be published weighed in on another side of the argument. “I’m not going. Prom’s just a dance that movies have made out to be the most important thing in your high school career. I think it’s just overrated, honestly.”
It seems like the general consensus on prom is that it isn’t that big of a deal, regardless of whether you’re going or not! Sorry, Hollywood! But if you are going to prom, be sure to not stress out, and have fun!